Friday, February 15, 2008

First off, I'm officially declaring 365 Sketch is a great idea, but it just isn't going to work for me, at least not right now. I've got so many things I want to get done in a day, I feel like even if I participate, it will just be something I throw together because "I have to". That isn't the spirit of that flickr group, so I'd be doing a disservice to everyone else participating as well as myself. I think it is hilarious that I only got to 7 days. I guess it just wasn't meant to be for right now - maybe in the future it will fit right into my creative patterns.

Onto other updates.... you may have noticed that I used to have a ton of prints in my shop and then they all of a sudden disappeared. I decided that I'm only going to offer prints on Etsy of paintings that have sold because otherwise it can be a little confusing to look through and see the same pics coming up for prints and originals. I am listing each print as having 10 available and once those sell out, I probably won't renew the listing to keep things fresh in my shop. This doesn't make them limited editions, just "limited to Etsy"!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

I painted this late last night and was eager to list it on Etsy this morning. A few hours later it was sold! If I could paint ten more paintings like this in the next week, I'll be happy. I'm working on a large commission today and hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon.

Since I'm starting to share my dreams in this creative way, I thought I'd share a song from Stevie Wonder's The Secret Life of Plants. My parent's had this album on tape and I ended up with it, because I loved all things Stevie Wonder - everything from the hits that he was coming out with in the 80's as I was growing up to the Innervisions record I played from my parent's collection. This album, The Secret Life of Plants, was different.

I couldn't listen to it during the day. I was too busy as a kid to really slow down and groove with it. But I would put it in my walkman and listen to it at night as I was falling asleep. It was so peaceful and otherworldly. Now I share it with you and wish you sweet dreams...

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

This drawing began on the back of a used envelope. I then scanned the drawing and altered it in Illustrator.

This rough sketch shows a scene from my dream last night. I was standing with my best friend Emily in the middle of one of the fields on my Grandfather's farm. It seemed like it was in another time because the land looked different. Where there is now a tobacco field, there was tall wild grasses and marshland. My friend and I were standing at the edge of a clearing made for camping. We had a fire going and were prepared to spend the night in a tent. But I looked up into the woods on the hill and saw a wild kingdom of animals. Lions and tigers, rhinos, giraffes, zebras - you name it - if it was an animal that wouldn't normally live in New England, it was there. My first reaction was fear - no way were we camping out there! I worried there were lurking predators in the brush surrounding us. But my second feeling was awe at this wild jungle of life before us. How did these animals get here? What happened on Earth to get us to this moment in time?

This ACEO was a commission for someone very sweet that is giving this as a Valentine's Day gift. The six of clubs holds special meaning for the couple and I was so happy to "embellish" the card just for them.

It's funny how lovers have their own special connections that can be any and everything. For us, it's a red pen. The first night my husband and I spent hours on the phone, Rob guessed that I was doodling with a red pen. All these years later, we still will bring it up "Remember the red pen? Awww... I knew I was hooked when you said that." Love is so special and unique to all of us.

Feel free to share your own special connections as we get closer to this ooshy gooshy holiday celebrating LOVE!

This (kind of silly and basic) sketch is of a dream I had. I was in a boat with a few other people looking at a city on the water when black clouds came in and two tornados plunged out of the sky striking the water in front of us. On the right was a bridge that we were close to/under and I could feel the force of a third tornado about to strike right in front of us. Someone in the boat said "don't look!" and covered her eyes. I couldn't look away.

(This dream was the night before real tornados did some damage in the US).

Monday, February 04, 2008

I spent the night at my cousin's house (who happens to be Rob's good friend also) finishing my book (Eat Pray Love) as they watched the superbowl. So let's see....

it was me surrounded by these guys I love and trust who feel comfortable enough around me to yell and curse at the TV when things don't go their way... they are Pats fans - that says it all. Meanwhile, I'm lost in Bali, thinking about pleasure and devotion merging as one, covering my ears with my hoodie as if that was a good substitute for ear plugs. I have to say, it's a testament to our marriage that I can come along and be that uninvolved and it's ok for both of us.

He was so engaged in the game, that when we got home, he crashed. I get it - I get that way about the Red Sox. Sports can be emotionally exhausting! And it ended up being beneficial to both of us because he needs the sleep and I needed a figure model for my sketch tonight. One that didn't move or "pose", which he would do if he was awake. Let me tell you, it has been a looooong time since I sketched from life. The last time I did it was in a dream and I don't think that really counts. I miss it and need to incorporate it back into my life - even if it isn't what I'm selling or focusing on in my major work, it needs to be present. This flickr group/challenge came at the perfect time!

I joined a group on flickr called 365 Sketch. As you can imagine it entails doing a new sketch every day of a full year. I've been tempted for a while to try and do the "daily painting" thing, but at the same time I resist because I don't want to push it when I'm not in the mood. This is perfect because if I'm having a down day, at least it's SOMETHING - something to keep my mind/spirit connected to my hand and to the stream of creativity you can easily cast yourself on the shores of.

So far I'm at day 3, and I've included a sketch on lined paper, an Illustrator altered drawing, and now this sketch on a torn piece of a paper bag. I like how other people in the group are showing pictures directly from their sketch books. I'm thinking I may start doing that too.